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Home/Lifestyle/Music

Perhaps The Best Contemporary Worship Song Ever Written

In a day and age when most traditional churches exclusively sang psalms, Isaac Watts (1647-1748) became a fervent contemporary writer of hymns

Written by Joseph Franks | Saturday, November 21, 2015

Many of his hymns, which are now very traditional, have richly blessed the church. Perhaps none has been so beloved as his famous song written to assist men and women in preparing for the table of the Lord, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” This hymn was based on the doctrine found in Galatians 6:14, “But far be... Continue Reading

Hymns We Should Sing More Often: O Word of God Incarnate

O Word of God Incarnate works well as a prayer of illumination or a prelude to it

Written by Kevin DeYoung | Monday, October 19, 2015

I am always looking for good songs that can lead us into the preaching of God’s word, and this hymn does the trick. O Word of God Incarnate works well as a prayer of illumination or a prelude to it. It fits well into Sunday morning liturgy immediately before the sermon because it centers its... Continue Reading

A Songwriting Rant

The fault lies partly with the worship leaders who choose drivel

Written by Andrew Wilson | Saturday, October 17, 2015

“Many modern songs are scatty, cloying, fluffy, incoherent, repetitive, flighty, bumbling, empty, careless, shallow, heretical, repetitive, nauseating, anaemic or repetitive. The fact that they nevertheless make their way into our times of corporate worship is not primarily the fault of the songwriters.”   I’m a huge fan of contemporary worship music. I don’t even apologise... Continue Reading

6 Reasons We Shouldn’t Use Hymnals Anymore

...and why I don't find any of those reasons compelling.

Written by Jonathan Aigner | Tuesday, August 4, 2015

“Hymnals are intended to be a collective statement of faith for the denomination or group that adopts it. The theological content of our singing is certainly stronger when we have a primary resource that’s been examined, vetted, and solidified on that basis.”   A year ago yesterday I wrote a post about hymnals. A lot of people read... Continue Reading

Hymns We Should Sing More Often: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

Unfortunately, for a growing number of churches, there are no hymnals in the pews (or on the chairs), and consequently there is little opportunity to draw from the deep well of Christian hymnody.

Written by Kevin DeYoung | Sunday, July 12, 2015

“Guide Me, O My Great Jehovah” is Williams’ most famous hymn. It compares the life of the believer with that of the Israelites during their 40 year wilderness wanderings in the “barren land”, and makes illusions to manna (“bread of heaven”), the crystal fountain, the fire and cloudy pillar, the Jordan River, and crossing over... Continue Reading

The Glory of Historic Hymns

Omitting older hymns in our gatherings silences the rich voices of church history

Written by Matt Boswell | Saturday, June 13, 2015

“When I mention historic hymns, maybe you cringe as you recall a “worship war” in your local church. Maybe you’re eager to only sing the old hymns. Or maybe you wonder why it is important at all. My aim is not to renew local church disputes or bolster mere sentimentality, but to commend something else... Continue Reading

Hymns We Should Sing More Often: “God Moves”

“God Moves in A Mysterious Way” encourages us to trust in God’s sovereignty in our lives, to cling to Christ in all our trials and sufferings

Written by Kevin DeYoung | Sunday, May 10, 2015

Cowper wrote “God Moves in a Mysterious Way” in 1773 before he fell into a deep depression. In the mysterious providence of God this hymn has brought comfort and hope to countless believers who, like Cowper, struggle through the long dark night of the soul.   This is part of an intermittent series I’ve called... Continue Reading

Hymns We Should Sing More Often: Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah, O My Soul

This is part of an intermittent series I’ve called “Hymns We Should Sing More Often.”

Written by Kevin DeYoung | Sunday, May 3, 2015

Psalm 146, from which this hymn, Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah, O My Soul, is taken, highlights the delightful and hopeful side of spiritual experience: God is to be praised because he is utterly trustworthy, faithful, powerful, compassionate, and just. The psalm begins and ends with “Hallelu Yah!” “Praise Jehovah!” The main body of the psalm encourages us... Continue Reading

A Call for Musically Gifted Pastors

If you believe God’s called and gifted you to serve the church with your music vocationally, I want to suggest that you consider whether God’s calling you to be a pastor as well

Written by Bob Kauflin | Saturday, May 2, 2015

“Of course, not every musician who leads congregational singing should or will be a pastor. But if you hope to join a church staff some day, I want to suggest six reasons why preparing to be a pastor who’s also a musician is better than simply aiming to be a worship leader.”   In 2008, I suggested in Worship Matters... Continue Reading

Hymns We Should Sing More Often: ‘Stricken, Smitten, And Afflicted’

Most of the hymns in this series are not unfamiliar, just underutilized

Written by Kevin DeYoung | Sunday, April 19, 2015

Thomas Kelly (1769-1855) wrote more than 750 hymns, including Stricken, Smitten, And Afflicted in 1804. Kelly planned to be a lawyer but after his conversion the Irishman decided to enter the ministry. He was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1792, but later became a “dissenting” minister.   This is part of an intermittent series... Continue Reading

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